Stefano Douaihy, founder and president of Miss Elite World, discussed the growth of the international pageant, its Egyptian roots and the elements that shaped the 2026 edition during his appearance on NileFM&rsquo;s &ldquo;The Big Drive&rdquo; with Zeinab and Sami on Tuesday, September 22. Reflecting on this year&rsquo;s edition, Douaihy described it as a major step forward, crediting the judging panel and the support of several Egyptian celebrities for contributing to the event&rsquo;s development. &ldquo;This one was quite big,&rdquo; Douaihy said, highlighting the impact of the jury and the celebrities who attended and supported the event. He explained that Miss Elite has continued to grow into an increasingly connected international community, gaining greater recognition and trust with each edition. &ldquo;It became like a small family that is getting bigger and bigger year by year, and people start to trust us more and more,&rdquo; he said. More Than Beauty Douaihy also explained that selecting the Miss Elite winner involves far more than physical appearance. The judging process takes into account several factors throughout the contestants&rsquo; 12-day experience, including their communication skills, social media presence, audience response, interactions with coordinators, choreography, punctuality, attitude and ability to adapt to different situations. &ldquo;For me, it&rsquo;s not only about seeing a girl and just voting for her beauty,&rdquo; he said. He explained that the judges are briefed about the contestants&rsquo; progress throughout the competition, allowing them to consider how each contestant performs and interacts over the course of the event. Douaihy also noted that contestants can make a very different impression as the competition progresses, with personality and charisma becoming increasingly visible. &ldquo;Some girls, in the beginning, you may not notice them, and then you realize, &lsquo;Oh my God, they are so amazing,&rsquo;&rdquo; he said. Miss Elite&rsquo;s Egyptian Roots Although Miss Elite has Egyptian roots, Douaihy said he does not see a contradiction between its Egyptian identity and its international ambitions. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t balance because there&rsquo;s no contradiction between being global and Egyptian,&rdquo; he said. He explained that Egypt&rsquo;s cultural and historical significance naturally allows the pageant to maintain an international character while remaining connected to its Egyptian roots. Douaihy also discussed the decision to hold the competition in Soma Bay, describing the destination as a suitable setting for the event and praising the overall experience for the international contestants. He noted that several contestants were impressed by their experience in Egypt, particularly by aspects of the country that they had not previously encountered. A Multicultural Pageant Douaihy described Miss Elite as a multicultural organization, reflecting the international nature of the competition itself. While the company is Egyptian, its team includes people from different nationalities and backgrounds, which he said contributes to the pageant&rsquo;s multicultural character. &ldquo;We are a blend of several nationalities,&rdquo; Douaihy said. He explained that this diversity is reflected across different aspects of the competition, from its production and choreography to its overall organization. The Details Behind Miss Elite Asked what has helped Miss Elite establish its position in the international pageant industry, Douaihy pointed to persistence, perseverance and a commitment to quality. &ldquo;Our persistence, perseverance, and honestly, my dedication of making good quality,&rdquo; he said. He highlighted the use of technology, including the pageant&rsquo;s voting system and mobile application, alongside the production, visuals, hospitality, transportation and organization involved in bringing the competition together. According to Douaihy, the experience is built around attention to detail, with different teams working together to ensure the contestants&rsquo; experience runs smoothly. &ldquo;Miss Elite is a puzzle of a mix of people supporting each other,&rdquo; he said. Looking ahead, Douaihy revealed that plans are already underway for an even bigger edition next year, as Miss Elite continues to expand its international presence while maintaining its connection to Egypt.

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